The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-01-13


sinking wen upon an agreed basis as stipulated in
the contract: A copy OF this contract viii be
found I'm the report of the commissioner CT
public lands and buildings, as also the very fun
and satisfactory statement of the commissioners
upon this subject. The report of the geelogist in
charge OF the work upon tine part of the state.
contains much useful and valuable information
bearing upon the present condition and future
prospects in the work OF developing our salt
interestS.
DISCOVERY OF COAL
We have at this time upon the statutes OF Ne
braska 3 law which provides that the board OF
county commissioners of each county in this
state are authorized and required to submit 10
the legal voters thereof, on presentation of a pc
tition of twenty resident freeholders OF said
county, the proposition to issue bonds. not ex.
ceeding twenty thousand dollars, the proceeds OF
which shall be applied TO defray the expenses of
boring and prospecting for coal in their respec-
tive counties under the direction Of the commits.
sioners thereof, and said boards are authorized
to issue the said bonds for said purpose, in case
the vote shall be favorable TO the proposition.
We have also a law which PROVIDES mat ~aen
It shall be made apparent to the governor OF Ne
braska, by affidavit of the owner or owners
thereof. that a vein of coal not less than twenty
six inches in depth, and of sufficient capacity TO
pay 10 mine, and within paying distance from
the surface has been discovered, or vein of good
iron ore eighteen inches thick, it shall be the duty
of the governor to appoint a suitable person to
examine the same, whose duty it shall be to re-
port the probable extent and capacity OF the vein
or veins, upon personal examination and meas
uremeDt, all expenses Tor SAID examination to be
paid for by the owner or owners of said mines.
Said report being satisfactory TO the governor,
he shall direct the auditor to draw an order on
the treasurer for the sum of four thousand dol
lars, 20 be paid TO the owner or owners or said
mine of coal.
The great Importance of the fuel question to
the people of our state. and my desire TO bring
this subject to your notice in the most favorable
light is my justification for quoting thus freely
from existing laws, and l have done SO Tor the
twofold purpose of showing the importance OF
this matter in the minds of legislators WHO have
preceded you, and their practical views upon 1t as
expressed by existing laws, and with the nope
and sound public policy to occupy advanced pub
lie ground Upon this subject. i do not recall a
single instance in which aEl the pe0Pis of = ne COUNT s16t.
utes, hare seen fit TO assume Inc
burden Of seeking to develop their coal interests,
and It presents itself 10 my Judgment as a burden
or duty that should be assumed by the state.
Numerous inquiries have been made Of this de
gartment during the past two years In the matter
Of offered by the state for the discovery
of coal, but in one case only has the reward been
claimed, and an examination asked for. This re
quest was upon proper showing granted, and |
gent as my Representative on behalf of the state
the present professor of geology in the University
of Nebraska, Mr.. L. E. Hicks. who proceeded to
make examination, and as the result OF his hives
tigation, filed in this office an interesting and ex-
haustive report deciding adversely to the claim
ant. Several of my predecessors have shown
their belief upon this question by recommending
the policy of a geological survey upon the part o.
to make a similar recommendation to the
legislature of 1888 and to renew it at
The session Of 1855. While my Recommendation
has been made with reference to the general de-
velorJnent of the wealth contained in our hidden
resources, It has been made with special reference
to the development of our coal interests, bellev-
ing as / do that coal will yet be found within our
borders in abundance. The suggestion Is again
made with the expression OF judgment that re-
suits hoped for, and such as may be reasonably
looked for from a carefully ordered geological
survey, are such as will warrant the necessary
expenditure for that purpose, with the probablh-
ties strongly favoring the discovery OF resources
turn not only commensurate with, but vastly in
excess of any reasonable outlay. This question
should have your most careful consideration.
CAPITOL BUILDING.
The work on the main or central portion of the
Canitol has gone steadily forward during the past
two years, and the building is nearing completion.
The cost to the state thus far is as follows: West
wing, 81, 98S. 10; east wing, 500, 900. The amount
appropriated and expended under the levy OF
1888 aud 1884 upon the main building was S116,-
964.45, and the amount expended Tor the same
purpose under the appropriation and levy of 1885
and 1886 was 13S,6l3.7 rs, making the total amount
expended in connection with the central building
during the past four years, Sso5,5.s q, and the
Der so, 1856, including amount paid for plans and
specifications and pay of superintendent. as
S43l.5 Is. To complete the building under the
terms of the contract will require an approprla-
ton of SlSS, 659.94. The commissioner of public
lands and buildings in his report touching this
subject calls attention TO needed changes in the
original plans of building and the necessity of
providing for same as well as fer the finishing of
The interior, and the laying out and general I'M
provement of the capitol grounds. The commits
sioner's recommendation is based upon state
ments and estimates furnished by the architect
and superintendent of construction. and has the
approval of the board OF public lands and build
ings.
The amount asked for to carry into effect the
recommendation above indicated IS $4,000, dI-
vided eS follows: $4,000 for change from stone
to iron in construction of dome: $4,000 for granite
columns for p~orticos; $1,000 for interior decora.
tion; S5;nSG for ehae ege ON IN Sec second iInnr 10Gr plan pa ,, OF
grounds, including terracing, curbing. making
walks and driveways, and carriage porches at
east and west entrances. You should make
ample provision for the continuous prose-
cution of this work to completion. The thrift
and enterprise Of our people, our resources and
development. speak through and are shown by
the character and quality of our public buildings
and their surroundings.
Within reasonable limits a spirit of state pride
is not only to be INDUCED in this direction as
commendable, but as being within the Line OF
wise economy.
The census provided for in the act approved
February 9, 1885, appropriating the sum of $50
coo or SO much thereof as might be necessary for
that purpose, Was carried out by the appointment
of Hon. George E. Lane as superintendent of this
ergetic management was brought to q successful
and highly satisfactory conclusion, as regards
both the showing made with reference to the
growth, development and general resources OF
the state, and the cost of the work. The original
returns of enumerators and other original reports
have been deposited for safe keeping in the office
of the secretary of state as required by law. The
total cost of this census was S39, T74.35, deducting
from this amount S34. $50. u received from the
general government for prompt and accurate re-
ports, leaves as the actual cost TO the state
S5.015.23.
Statements and figures in connection with this
work have from time to time been given to the
public. The law providing for this census was
radically defective, inasmuch as it failed to make
provision for the full and immediate publication
of its results. The requirement contained In the
ninth section of this act, making 1t the duty
of the Superintendent TO compile the returns
and deliver the same to the governor, who shall
Incorporates them in his next biennial message, IS
not practicable, in that if carried out it would
necessarily so dwarf and mutilate the work as to
practically destroy its usefulness. l am Informed
BY the SUPERINTENDENT of census that the material
on hand would make q volume of not less than
$50 pages. The legislature should al once PROVIDE
means for the publication and circulation OF this
matter in such form as its Importance with rela-
ton to the interests of the state so clearly de-
mandS-
LEGISLATIVE APPoRTIoNxENT.
II Incomes your duty to carry out the provision
contained in section two (A, article three tSl, OF
the constitution entitled legislative. which says
that the legislature at its first regular session after
each enumeration shall apportion the senators
and representatives according to the number OF
inbab;tants, excluding Indians not taxed and sol,
die and officers of the United States army and
s,ry This snDortionJnept will be based upon the